Mobile air cleaning apparatus for pollution removal

ABSTRACT

In a driven vehicle an air filtering assembly for cleaning pollution from the ambient air in the path of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle and assembly as a mobile cleaning device.

United States Patent 1 Colosimo 1 MOBILE AIR CLEANING APPARATUS FORPOLLUTION REMOVAL [76] Inventor: Louis E. C010simo, 23231 Port, St.

Clair Shores, Mich. 48082 [22] Filed: June 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:150,083

[52] U.S. CI 55/104, 23/288 R, 55/118,

55/126, 55/129, 55 l38, 55/139, 55/242, 55/274, 55/320, 55/356, 55/385,55/418, 55/467, 55/482, 55/DIG. 19, 55/DIG. 28,

55/DIG. 41

[51] Int. Cl. B03c 3/66 [58] Field of Search 55/104, 118, 120,

385, 418, 467, 482, DIG. 19, DIG. 28, DIG.

73/421 R, 421 A, 421.5 R; 123/119 R, 119 B,

[111 3,738,088 June 12, 1973 [5 6] 1 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,881,854 4/1959 Vehre, Jr. 55/316 2,990,911 7/1961 Lippincott55/104 3,157,479 11/1964 B0168 55/154 X 3,299,620 H1967 Hollingworth55/126 3,406,669 10/1968 Edwards 123/119 B FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 717,705 11/1954 'Great Britain 55/102 PrimaryExaminerDennis E. Talbert, Jr. Attorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [57]ABSTRACT In a driven vehicle an air filtering assembly for cleaningpollution from the ambient air in the path of the vehicle by utilizingthe vehicle and assembly as a mobile cleaning device.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pnmmw 3788.088

| i? Y Mug k Mw BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The state of the prior artreferences, which are cited here of record, is indicated by thefollowing references which were located in a preliminary examination:l-Iornig U. S.- Pat.,No. ,3,534,530; Jacobs U. S. Pat. No. 3,070,971;and, Manual of Electrostatic Precipitator Technology by S. Oglesby etal., published August 1970.

This invention relates to an air filtering assembly in a driven vehiclecapable of utilization such that ambient air in the path of the vehicleis cleaned to remove pollution from the air.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a new technique ofcleaning pollution from the air which involves the provision of a novelair filtering assembly in a driven vehicle such that the assembly iscoordinated and cooperates with the vehicle to clean pollution from theair by utilizing the vehicle-assembly as a mobile cleaning device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new air filteringassembly in a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle-airfiltering assembly combination which cleans pollution from the air byutilizing the combination as a mobile cleaning device to clean the airwhich is in the path of the moving vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ducting means in the airfiltering assembly referred to herein such that ambient air in the pathof the vehicle which is cleaned passes through the filtering assemblywithin efficient operational limits of the filtering assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in the airfiltering assembly referred to a construction whereby damage to moredelicate parts of the filtering assembly is prevented, such as thatdamage which might occur from stones, water, and heavy particulatematerial passing into the filtering assembly at an inappropriate timeduring the usage of the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new air filteringassembly in a driven vehicle, which filtering assembly is separate fromthe normal air filter mounted above the carburetor of an internalcombustion engine for a vehicle, and which air filtering assembly iselectrically energized by a battery or alternator operatively connectedwith the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new air filteringassembly in a driven vehicle which may optionally include a post filterwhich is a catalytic, replaceable cartridge type filter for the purposeof cleaning the air of nonparticulate or aerosol pollution (hereinafterreferred to as nonparticulate pollution) such as carbon monoxide,unburned hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides, and/or sulphur oxides, and thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air filtering assemblyin a driven vehicle wherein ducting means may be utilized to direct thecleaned air from the outlet of the filtering assembly to desired usessuch as the fresh air or air conditioning system of the vehicle (i.e.,the fresh air, heating, or cooling system of the vehicle).

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air filteringassembly in a driven vehicle which acts as a mobile cleaning device toclean the air of pollution added by other vehicles and also of pollutioncontributed to the air by industry, nature (pollen, bacteria, etc.) andhumans (such as insecticides, dust, etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air filteringassembly in a driven vehicle which assembly includes a catalytic postfilter which may by providing an offsetting effect eliminate the needfor a catalytic filter in the exhaust system of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new airfiltering assembly in a driven vehicle wherein an electronicprecipitator filtering means is utilized in a unique manner to therebyenable the filtering assembly to clean pollution from ambient air in thepath of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new airfiltering assembly in a driven vehicle which includes means for sprayinga fluid into the filtering assembly for periodic cleaning andrejuvenating thereof intermittent to its actual usage as a mobilecleaning device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description and from the appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likenumerals in different figures indicate like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view ofthe under-thehood compartment for an internal combustion engine with theair filtering assembly of this invention mounted therein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the air filtering assembly in crosssection;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of FIG. 3 in partially cut away form;

FIG. 5 illustrates in schematic form the air filtering assembly;

FIG. 6 illustrates in schematic form the electrical system used in theinvention; and,

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein a powersource for the air filtering assembly is derived from the alternator ofthe vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves, in a vehicledriven by an internal combustion engine, an air filtering assembly meansfor cleaning air taken into the assembly at a controlled rate relativeto movement of the vehicle and said assembly being operative todischarge cleaned air therefrom, said assembly means comprising: ductingmeans for controlling the velocity of the inlet air to the assembly incoordination with the velocity of the vehicle and operating limits ofthe filtering assembly, first filter means for removing relativelylarger size particulate material from the inlet air, second electronicprecipitator filter means for removing relatively smaller sizeparticulate material from the air, said assembly means being operativeto clean pollution from the air by utilizing the vehicle as a mobilecleaning device, and said assembly being powered by pre-existing powersource means on the vehicle which supplies a source of electricalenergy.

From another'aspect the present invention involves, in a driven vehicle,an air filtering assembly means for cleaning air taken into the assemblyat a controlled rate relative to movement of the vehicle and saidassembly being operative to discharge cleaned air therefrom, saidassembly means comprising: ducting means for properly introducing anddistributing inlet air to the assembly, filter means for removingrelatively larger size particulate material from the inlet air, and forremoving relatively smaller size particulate material from the air, andsaid assembly means being operative to clean pollution from the ambientair in the path of the vehicle by utilizing the vehicle as a mobilecleaning device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 14 illustrate a vehicle1, engine 2 and air filtering assembly means 3 in accordance with theinvention. The engine 2, typically shown in an automobile vehicle 1, isof the internal combustion type having a fan 7, conventional air filter8 for intake into the carburetor, and an air intake 9 to the air filter8. The engine 2 has a cooling system operatively connected with aradiator and has an electrical system operatively connected with abattery 6. The battery 6, of course, can be charged by appropriatecircuitry including an alternator adapted to be driven by the engine 2.

FIG. 3 shows the important portions of the air filtering assembly 3 in atop cross-sectional view. The assembly 3 is comprised of ducting means31 which may be specially tuned and designed to channel or control theinput of air to the filtering assembly 3 such that a controlled velocityof air is introduced to the assembly, in an evenly distributed fashionacross the cross sectional area of the filter means as discussedhereinafter, to optimize the filtering ability of the assembly 3. Afterthe air passes into ducting means 31 it comes into contact withdistributing louvres or vanes 33 which evenly direct the inlet air intoa first filter means or prefilter designated 35. The vanes 33 may besuitably designed to evenly distribute air to the prefilter 35 and theelectronic filter 37. The vanes 33 may be streamlined turning vanes orthe like. The ducting means 31 and the louvres or vanes 33 may also bedesigned to keep the noise level down and to keep the velocity of airwithin the operating limits of the filtering assembly; and, furthermorethe duct work and vanes help to protect the filters from water anddamaging particulate material such as stones. A screen 32 (FIGS. 3 and4), for example of inch mesh size, may suitably be positioned across theentrance to the duct 31 to prevent leaves and other large particulatesfrom entering duct 31.

Holes or apertures 34 are positioned at the bottom of the duct work 31just before the louvres or vanes 33 such that water runoff may beallowed to pass out the bottom of the duct work 31 before the inlet airreaches the prefilter 35.

The outlet duct work means 40 is to direct the cleaned air from the airfiltering assembly either back to the atmosphere or it may be directedto other desirable uses such as in the fresh air, or air conditioningsystem (for heating and cooling purposes) of the vehicle. This latterpurpose is of course highly advantageous in that it allows personsinside the vehicle to breathe cleaned air, and for example this would beparticularly advantageous to persons with allergies. The outlet ductmeans 40 may also be used to assist in accomplishing proper velocitycontrol of the throughput of air through the air filtering assembly.

It should also be understood that the ducting means 31 may be designedin a manner such that the air filtering assembly 3 will operate at anoptimized efficiency preferably of about percent and no less than 75percent at a particular vehicle speed, e.g., approximately 60 m.p.h. Thedesign of the tuned ducting means may be such that within the speedrange of approximately 30-90 m.p.h. the air filtering assembly willoperate at an efficiency of no less than about 50 percent and preferablythe efficiency of the air filtering assembly will remain at 75 percentor higher at the speed range 30-90 m.p.h. Furthermore it should beunderstood that tuning of the ducting means and velocity control of theair throughput can be carried out in any satisfactory manner dependentupon the vehicle involved and the type of usage for which the vehicle isparticularly adapted.

The ducting means 31 may also include special flow reducing means 131(FIG. 3) at the entrance thereto, with the flow reducing means beingformed by suitable structural means such as hinged panels which areopenable and closeable to reduce the inlet air flow to the ducting means31. The flow reducing means 131 are controlled by sensor and servomotormeans 133 which react to a signal from the air flow sensing at point134.

The prefilter 35 is designed primarily to remove relatively larger sizedparticulate material from the inlet air. For example the prefilter isdesigned to remove particulate material within the range of about 1micron up to about microns and higher. The prefilter 35 is also designedsuch that it is sufficiently strong to resist damage by largeparticulate material such as stones, etc., and the prefilter may also beused to help prevent drops of water from passing through to the secondfilter means.

After the air passes through the prefilter 35 it next passes into theelectronic precipitator filter means designated 37 which is comprised oftwo different sections, namely an ionizing section 370 and a collectingplates section designated 37b. The electronic precipitating meansoperates to cleanse the air of particulate material ranging in a sizegenerally from about 0.01 microns up to about 1 micron and higher.

The electronic precipitator filtering means 37 also includes a powerpack 37c for converting the preexisting electrical power source withinthe vehicle, such as the voltage available at battery 6, to theelectrical voltage required by the ionizing section 37a and collectingplates section 37b of the precipitator filter means 37. Alternativelythe pre-existing electrical power source on the vehicle 1 which isutilized to power the filtering assembly may be a special voltagewinding 70 (FIG. 7) on the alternator 71 of the vehicle, whichalternator is of the conventional type normally used to charge thevehicle battery. The winding 70 is special constructed to provide anoutput voltage having a magnitude which is readily adapted for usage bythe power converter 37c.

Airborne particles of dust, dirt, smoke, pollen and germs which arecarried through the duct work and the prefilter 35 into the electronicprecipitator filter 37 are passed through a high energy electrical fieldset up between ionizing wires in the ionizing section 37a and theparticles receive a positive electrical charge. The particulate materialis subjected to a predetermined optimized residence time within theionizing section 37a which may be specially constructed so that itpossesses a preselected length dimension in the direction of travelofthe particulate material through ionizing section 37a and thus theionizing section is operative to provide sufficient residence time forcharging of the particulate material relative to the velocity at whichthe material passes through the ionizing section. For example, thefiltering assembly 3 may be optionally designed for producing cleansedair in an amount of approximately 500 cubic feet per minute at a vehiclespeed of about 60 mph, and the construction of the ionizing section 37amay be designed accordingly. When the charged, -particles reach thecollecting plates section 37b, the particles encounter a secondelectrical field set up between a series of plates 162, such as aluminumplates, which are alternately charged positively and negatively. Thepositively charged particle as it passes between two plates is repelledby the positive plate and is attracted by the negative plate where it isheld until washed ofi. Where advantageous the field in the ionizingsection 37a may be selected to provide a negative charge to theparticles in which case the particles would be collected on the positiveplate. The ionizing wires 160 may be made for example of tungsten, forlong life, and the wires may be spiraled to provide more positiveionization and performance, and yet can easily be replaced if necessary.The collecting plates 162 may be high grade aluminum spaced inaccordance with conservative design parameters to provide a rugged andstable operation and extra dirt holding capacity. The structural membersof the filtering means 37 may satisfactorily be constructed of aluminumor stainless steel to combine strength and durability with lightweight.

Velocity throughput of air through the air filtering assembly ismeasured by a suitable air flow sensing means 1011. The air flow sensingmeans may suitably be of the type which senses the differential betweenthe unrestricted straight through flow of air which bypasses thefiltering assembly through the small channel 101 at the point 102relative to the air flow measured at a point 103 on the downstream sideof the prefilter 35.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the air flow sensing means 100 and sensormeans 118 may also be used to signal and activate one or more warninglights designated 112, 114, and 116. Warning light 112 may be located atthe rear of the vehicle for external policing as to whether thefiltering assembly 3 is properly functioning. Warning light 114 may, forexample, be mounted on the instrument panel or dash panel of the vehicleto indicate malfunctioning or improper functioning of the filteringassembly 3. Warning light 116 may be used (mounted either on theelectronic precipitator or on the vehicle instrument panel) to indicatethat the electronic precipitator is drawing excessive voltage as sensedby the sensor means 118 thus indicating that the electronic precipitator37 requires cleaning.

Cleaning of either filter means 35 or filter means 37 may be carriedout, for example, by connecting a sprayable fluid source to theconnection means 39 (FIG. 5) through the use of a hose or the like, andspraying the fluid over the interior of the filter means to clean orrejuvenate same. In order that the effluent from the cleaning operationdoes not again escape into the environment the effluent may be collectedfrom the bottom of the filtering assembly 3, for example, through theutilization of a collector nozzle means 390. Alternatively, cleaning ofthe filter means 35 and/or 37 may satisfactorily be carried out byremoving same from the assembly 3 and washing same.

Another alternative use of the filtering assembly 3 in accordance withthe invention is to connect a vent line designated 120 to act as abreather from the oil cap 122 such that all of the fumes from the oilsump of the vehicle are vented through the conduit 120 for introductioninto the filtering assembly 3 at a point designated 124 such that thefumes transmitted through the conduit 120 can be cleaned by passagethrough the filtering assembly. Alternatively the same embodiment ofbreather line 120 being used to introduce fumes 124 in the filteringassembly 3 may be applied to vent the fumes from the vehicle gas tankthrough the filtering assembly 3.

The cleaned air from the filtering assembly 3 may be discharged at Mt)into the environment such that the environment is enriched by theoperation of the filtering assembly 3 in cleaning the ambient air in thepath of the vehicle 1 as described above. Alternatively the cleaned airfrom the filtering assembly 3 may be introduced into the freshair/heating/cooling system 11 of the vehicle adjacent the firewall 13through a conduit designated 142. In another alternative embodiment ofthis invention the cleaned air which is discharged from the filteringassembly 3 may in a fractional amount be introduced into the air inlet 9for the carburetor of the vehicle through the conduit designated 144,and in effect this system can be utilized to take advantage of the cubicdisplacement of the vehicle engine for drawing air through the filteringassembly. In the event that the air flow sensing means 1110 signals thatthe air flow passage through the filter means 35, 37 is becomingrestricted then the sensor and servomotor means 146 can be used tosignal through M8 the opening of a vent door (not shown) at the end ofthe air intake 9 to admit normal atmospheric air to the air filter 8above the carburetor of the vehicle 1.

As shown in the schematic view of FIG. 5 a catalytic postfilter meansmay suitably be placed in the filtering assembly of this inventiondownstream from the filter means 35, 37. The catalytic filter designated1511 may suitably be of the replaceable cartridge type which isoperative to clean the air which comes in contact therewith ofnonparticulate pollution such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons,nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides, and the like. The postfilter 1511 mayalso be of a type suitable for assisting in controlling the velocity ofair passing through the filter means 35, 37 and also the postfilter 1511may be used to collect blow through from the collector plates 162 of theelectronic filter 37.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of theinvention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible-tomodification, variation and change without departing from the properscope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims. It should be understoodthat while the description herein has been made primarily with respectto a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine that usage of theinvention is contemplated in relation to other types of vehicles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, an airfiltering assembly means for cleaning air taken into the assembly at acontrolled rate relative to movement of the vehicle and said assemblybeing operative to discharge cleaned air therefrom,

said assembly means comprising: ducting means which are tuned forcontrolling the velocity of the inlet air to the assembly incoordination with the velocity of the vehicle and operating limits ofthe filtering assembly,

first filter means for removing relatively larger size particulatematerial from the inlet air, second electronic precipitator filter meansfor removing relatively smaller size particulate material from the air,said assembly means being operative to clean pollution from the air byutilizing the vehicle as a mobile cleaning device, and said assemblybeing powered by pre-existing power source means on the vehicle whichprovides electrical energy for the engine, and wherein,

said assembly includes air flow sensing means for determining cloggingin said filter means and whether flow of air through said filter meansis maintained at a proper level.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said assembly includes electrical power source means on the vehicle forsupplying electricity to the assembly and power converter means forconverting the power source to usable voltage range for powering thefilter means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said ducting means are tuned to be operative in maintaining efficiencyof said filter means at a level of at least 75 percent efficiency at avehicle speed of 60 mph. and ma level not lower than 50 percentefficiency over a vehicle speed range from 30 to 90 mph.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said ducting means includes air flow reducing means operative to controlthe amount of inlet air introduced into said assembly means withinefficient operating limits.

5. The invention of claim 1 with said pre-existing power sourcecomprising a voltage generator driven by the engine to provideelectrical power for operation of the engine and including a separatewinding adapted to provide electrical power for said electronicprecipitator filter means.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said assembly includes differential air flow sensing means fordetermining clogging in said filter means and whether flow of airthrough said first filter means is maintained at a proper level, andsignal means for alerting that the filtering assembly means is notperforming properly.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein,

said signal means include an activatable warning means on an instrumentpanel of the vehicle.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein,

said signal means include a light signal policing means externallymounted on the vehicle for policing whether said filtering assembly isperforming properly.

9. The invention of claim 6 with said power source comprising a voltagegenerator driven by the engine to provide electrical power for operationof the engine and including a separate winding adapted to provide therequired electrical power to said power converter means.

10. In a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, an airfiltering assembly means for cleaning air taken into the assembly at acontrolled rate relative to movement of the vehicle and said assemblybeing operative to discharge cleaned air therefrom,

said assembly means comprising:

ducting means which are tuned for controlling the velocity of the inletair to the assembly in coordination with the velocity of the vehicle andoperating limits of the filtering assembly,

first filter means for removing relatively larger size particulatematerial from the inlet air,

second electronic precipitator filter means for removing relativelysmaller size particulate material from the air, said assembly meansbeing operative to clean pollution from the air by utilizing the vehicleas a mobile cleaning device, and said assembly being powered bypre-existing power source means on the vehicle which provides electricalenergy for the engine, and wherein,

said assembly includes sensing means for determining voltage drop in theelectronic precipitator filter means and for indicating that said filtermeans is becoming overloaded and requires cleaning.

1. In a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, an airfiltering assembly means for cleaning air taken into the assembly at acontrolled rate relative to movement of the vehicle and said assemblybeing operative to discharge cleaned air therefrom, said assembly meanscomprising: ducting means which are tuned for controlling the velocityof the inlet air to the assembly in coordination with the velocity ofthe vehicle and operating limits of the filtering assembly, first filtermeans for removing relatively larger size particulate material from theinlet air, second electronic precipitator filter means for removingrelatively smaller size particulate material from the air, said assemblymeans being operative to clean pollution from the air by utilizing thevehicle as a mobile cleaning device, and said assembly being powered bypre-existing power source means on the vehicle which provides electricalenergy for the engine, and wherein, said assembly includes air flowsensing means for determining clogging in said filter means and whetherflow of air through said filter means is maintained at a proper level.2. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said assembly includes electricalpower source means on the vehicle for supplying electricity to theassembly and power converter means for converting the power source tousable voltage range for powering the filter means.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein, said ducting means are tuned to be operative inmaintaining efficiency of said filter means at a level of at least 75percent efficiency at a vehicle speed of 60 m.p.h. and at a level notlower than 50 percent efficiency over a vehicle speed range from 30 to90 m.p.h.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said ducting meansincludes air flow reducing means operative to control the amount ofinlet air introduced into said assembly means within efficient operatinglimits.
 5. The invention of claim 1 with said pre-existing power sourcecomprising a voltage generator driven by the engine to provideelectrical power for operation of the engine and including a separatewinding adapted to provide electrical power for said electronicprecipitator filter means.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein, saidassembly includes differential air flow sensing means for determiningclogging in said filter means and whether flow of air through said firstfilter means is maintained at a propeR level, and signal means foralerting that the filtering assembly means is not performing properly.7. The invention of claim 6 wherein, said signal means include anactivatable warning means on an instrument panel of the vehicle.
 8. Theinvention of claim 6 wherein, said signal means include a light signalpolicing means externally mounted on the vehicle for policing whethersaid filtering assembly is performing properly.
 9. The invention ofclaim 6 with said power source comprising a voltage generator driven bythe engine to provide electrical power for operation of the engine andincluding a separate winding adapted to provide the required electricalpower to said power converter means.
 10. In a vehicle driven by aninternal combustion engine, an air filtering assembly means for cleaningair taken into the assembly at a controlled rate relative to movement ofthe vehicle and said assembly being operative to discharge cleaned airtherefrom, said assembly means comprising: ducting means which are tunedfor controlling the velocity of the inlet air to the assembly incoordination with the velocity of the vehicle and operating limits ofthe filtering assembly, first filter means for removing relativelylarger size particulate material from the inlet air, second electronicprecipitator filter means for removing relatively smaller sizeparticulate material from the air, said assembly means being operativeto clean pollution from the air by utilizing the vehicle as a mobilecleaning device, and said assembly being powered by pre-existing powersource means on the vehicle which provides electrical energy for theengine, and wherein, said assembly includes sensing means fordetermining voltage drop in the electronic precipitator filter means andfor indicating that said filter means is becoming overloaded andrequires cleaning.